Tar Heels freshmen bring fun to ‘Late Night with Roy’

North Carolina's James Michael McAdoo shows off his dance moves Friday night.

The Associated Press

By Adam Smith / Times-News

Published: Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 01:45 AM.

CHAPEL HILL — From leotards and tutus to impacting the season-opening scrimmage, it was a first taste of
North Carolina
basketball flavored by freshmen.

Each of the four new arrivals provided noteworthy moments Friday night, as the Tar Heels tipped off the start of practice during their annual “Late Night with
Roy
” at the
Smith
Center
.

After two hours of light-hearted skits, video clips and dance numbers — the freshmen performed ballerina-style, fluttering around to Adele’s “Someone Like You” — a 20-minute scrimmage ended the event.

And while sophomore guard P.J. Hairston topped all scorers with 12 points, including a quick eight on the strength of two 3-pointers in the first 6½ minutes, newcomers Marcus Paige, Joel James, Brice Johnson and J.P. Tokoto provided their own promising glimpses.

CHAPEL HILL — From leotards and tutus to impacting the season-opening scrimmage, it was a first taste of North Carolina basketball flavored by freshmen.

Each of the four new arrivals provided noteworthy moments Friday night, as the Tar Heels tipped off the start of practice during their annual “Late Night with Roy” at the SmithCenter.

After two hours of light-hearted skits, video clips and dance numbers — the freshmen performed ballerina-style, fluttering around to Adele’s “Someone Like You” — a 20-minute scrimmage ended the event.

And while sophomore guard P.J. Hairston topped all scorers with 12 points, including a quick eight on the strength of two 3-pointers in the first 6½ minutes, newcomers Marcus Paige, Joel James, Brice Johnson and J.P. Tokoto provided their own promising glimpses.

Paige, the lone McDonald’s All-American in North Carolina’s freshman class, who coach Roy Williams expects to start at point guard, picked his spots alongside Hairston and contributed seven points to help the Blue Team defeat the White Team 37-27.

The left-handed James, a 6-foot-10, 260-pound space-eater, showed a soft touch in connecting on a jumper from the elbow, a turnaround from the baseline and a spin move in the lane. He chipped in six points for the Blue Team.

“He’s a big body. He bangs. But he can knock down a 12-footer,” junior guard Leslie McDonald said.

Johnson (6-9) and Tokoto (6-5), an athletic pair of leapers, delivered the most resounding highlights.

Johnson got up and thumped a dunk off Hairston’s alley-oop pass from midcourt. That drew raves from McDonald afterward.

Tokoto hustled and dived to the court to corral a steal in the backcourt. From the seat of his practice shorts, he fed Reggie Bullock, who then lofted a lob back toward Tokoto, flying in for a resounding dunk.

Bullock, a junior swingman, and sophomore forward James Michael McAdoo added seven points apiece for the White Team. Official stats were not kept.

Senior guard Dexter Strickland, nearly all the way back from knee surgery, was held out of the scrimmage for precautionary reasons. He will participate in practice today.

The crowd embraced Friday night’s namesake with several extended ovations.

The 62-year-old Williams, weeks after surgery to remove a benign kidney tumor, seemed to choke up during those outpourings. He waved and paused to wipe his face and take deep breaths.

“Just to see that icon,” McDonald said, referring to Williams, “everybody supported him and not only gave him applause, but gave him a standing ovation for a long time. Just to be able to see the fans and the support brought a happiness to me.”

U.S. women’s soccer player Heather O’Reilly, a North Carolina alum with the London gold medal hanging from her neck, was escorted by mascot Rameses during an Olympic-inspired start to the night.

Maybe the most interesting scene unfolded when the Tar Heels women’s team was introduced.

The final name announced was coach Sylvia Hatchell. She pulled outgoing chancellor Holden Thorp from the stands and, arm-in-arm, walked him onto the court. Seconds later, the women’s players hoisted Thorp on their shoulders.